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Driver to compensate man who jumped out of his moving taxi

A Bath man who suffered severe brain damage after jumping out of a moving taxi will receive damages from the cabbie who "abducted" him.

Kristopher Hicks leapt from the vehicle after believing he was being held against his will. London's High Court heard driver Michael Young, who was travelling at more than 20mph, formed the view Kristopher and his girlfriend, were not going to pay the fare, and had instead planned to "do a runner".

Kristopher Hicks suffered severe brain damage after jumping out of a moving taxi Credit: Nick Ansell/PA Wire

To teach the couple a lesson he decided to drive them back to the taxi rank, causing them as much inconvenience as he could.

Mr Justice Edis said there was no basis for Michael's belief and Kristopher, who found himself being driven off by a stranger, decided to escape.

The end result is that the claimant decided to jump out of the taxi at a dangerous speed. I do not know why he did this.

It may have been that he misjudged the speed and thought it was safe to do so, but the true motive will never be known.

– Mr Justice Edis

He said Kristopher was driven away from his home unlawfully for about three-quarters of a mile which, taken on its own, would be an irritating and unsettling incident, but not one with serious consequences.

Kristopher has never been able to speak to anyone about the incident after a night out in the city in November 2010, when he was 23.

Both sides were given permission to appeal.